Improvement in feed-water regulators and low-water alarms for steam-boilers



WILLEMv PAINTER. Improvement in Feed-Water Regulators and Low-,WaterAlarms for Steam-Boilers.

Patented'ju'e11f1872.

MP/MTM/moc/WH/c cam fassmrs Faociss) r S'rA'rns PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM' PAINTER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGN OR OF ONE-HALF HISRIGHT TO LEWIS R. KEIZER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT lN FEED-WATER REGULATORS AND LOW-WATER ALARMS FORSTEAM-BOILERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 127,917, dated J unel1, 1872.

Specificationdescribing certain Improvementsl in Feed-Tater Regulatorsand' Low- Water Alarms, invented by WILLIAM PAIN- TER, of Baltimore,Maryland. 1

The first part of my invention relates to the use of a exble diaphragminclosed in a chamber, to which steam and water are admitted from theboiler by pipes so connected and arranged that the rising and falling ofwater in the boiler shall give motion tothe diaphragm and throughsuitable means operate a valve to regulate the water-supply, controladmission of steam to a feed-pump, or shift a belt to and from the same.The second part relates to the use of a secondary and smaller.

diaphragm inclosed in a chamber attached to the regulator, similarlyoperated, and connected with the boiler in such manner as to sound analarm-whistle in case the water shouldfall to a dangerous point.

Figure l is a vertical transverse section, showing the several parts ofthe regulator and low-Water alarm and their connection with the boilerand with each other. Fig. 2 shows the same view of a modification of thefeed-water regulator alone.

In Fig. l, A is the base-plate, forming the lower half of the chamber,and B the top, forming the upper half. Between the flanges of therespective parts, which are rmly bolted together, is the flexiblediaphragm O, separating the chamber into two-parts, which will bedesignated as the upper and lower chambers. This diaphragm is madeeither of thin brass or other metal, as in Fig. l, or of rubber, as inFig. 2. To the under side of diaphragm, at its center, is secured theplate D with projecting lug-E. F is a rod or lever, one end of whichengages with lug E. It passes through a cap or gland, b, bolted tobase-plate, and inclosing a soft rubber gasket, G, surrounding thelever, which it is caused to hug tightly by the pressure of gland b,forming a steam-tight joint. The edge of opening in gland is beveled toform a knifeedge on which the lever vibrates. Its motion at that pointbeing slight, the rubber readily conforms to it. At a point on the leverequidistant with lug E from the fulcrum is a counter-weight, H. I is ahole in lever for attaching the rod connecting it with theregulatingvalve, to which any motion of diaphragm will be therebycommunicated. The lower chamber is connected with the boiler by a pipe,J,

leading to the water-line; the upper by a4 pipe, K, leading to thesteam-space. On the top-plate B is cast a ring or ange, L, inclosy lingthe chamber M. Bolted to this flange isv the concave-top N, inclosingthe chamber O. Between these two parts is the. secondary diaphragm Pthat operates the alarm-whistle. Attached to the center of thisdiaphragm is the valve Q opening upward and seated at R. S is thesteam-whistle. The lower chamber Mis connected to the boiler by a pipe,T, reaching to the low-water or alarm-line. The upper chamber O isconnected with the upper chamber of regulator by the opening U. Theregulator and alarm being properly attached to the boiler as described,let it be supposed the water stands at a level slightly below the mouthof pipe J, communicating with the lower chamber of the regulator. Ifsteam be raised in the boiler the air in all the pipes and chambers willbe compressed and steam will fill pipes J and K, while water will risein pipe T, partially filling the lower chamber M of the alarm. As thereis steam (or steam and air) in the upper and lower chambers of theregulator the pressure (which, let it be supposed. is fifty pounds persquare inch) on both sides of diaphragm O will be equal; it is,therefore, balanced so far as steam pressure is concerned.

i But we have on lever F a counter-weight, H,

of twenty pounds, which carries it downward until arrested by thetension of diaphragm G, which has sufcient motion to regulate the valvebefore the extreme, in either direction, is reached. The downward motionof lever referred to has the effect of opening the regulating-valve,admitting to the boiler a supply of water that, on rising, closes themouth of pipe J 5 the steam therein condensing, water is forced up tosupply its place, rising to a,

and partially filling the lower chamber. It

will now be observed that on the upper side of diaphragm C there is apressure of fifty pounds per square inch, while on the lower side thereis less, according to the height of column of water in pipe J. To moreclearly understand this, let it be supposed this col# umn or in otherwords the distance from dia phragm C to the water-line) is two feet. Thepressure of steam required to sustain this col umn is one pound persquare inch. If, then, we have iifty pounds pressure in the chamberabove the diaphragm, there will be but fortynine pounds per square inchin that below, leaving a preponderance of one pound per square inch onthe upper side, acting in opposition to the counter-weight H. If, now,the` diaphragm be of such a size as to receive, at the rat-e of onepound per square inch, an aggregate force of forty pounds on its upperside in excess of that on the lower, the diaphragm will be depressed,raising the counter-weight and lever `and elosin g the valve, shuttingofi' the water-supply. When, from evaporation, the water-level fallsbelow the mouthof pipe J, the water in it descends by its own gravity,steam rising to take its place-the original pressure of ifty pounds persquare inch-the lower chamber is restored, whereby the diaphragm isagain balanced (and the counterweight and lever descend, opening thesup` ply-valve. As soon as the water-level again rises, closing themouth of pipe J, condensation takes place, water rises in it, reducingthe pressure on the under side of diaphragm, which, in consequence,descends, raising .the counter-weight and lever, and again opening thesupply-valve. The action is thus continued, a very slight rising andfalling of the water-level being required to iill and empty pipe J,acting upon the diaphragm and controlling the supply-valve, asdescribed. On reference to the diaphragm P of the low-water alarm itwill be noticed that it isi subject to the same conditions as that ofthe regulator. In the chamber O, above the diaphragm which communicateswith the upper chamber ofregulator through the opening U, the pressureis fifty pounds per square inch, while in the chamber M, under thediaphragm, there is but forty-nine pounds, owing to the boiler pressurebeing required to sustain the column of' water in pipe T. There is,therefore, sufficient downward pressure on the diaphragm P, to whichvalve Q, is attached, to hold it on its seat, in opposition to the steampressure tending to open it. So long as the water-level in boiler isabove the mouth of pipe T the whistle-valve is held closed; but shouldthe line fall below it the water in pipe T falls by its own gravity,steam rising to iill its place; the pressure in chambers O and M beeomesequal, the diaphragm is balanced, and, there being no force to retainvalve Q on its seat it is raised by the steam, which escapes and soundsthe alarmwhistle. As the water-level rises, covering the mouth of pipeT, condensation talres place and water rises in it, reducing thepressure in chamber M, diaphragm P is depressed, and the whistle-valveclosed.

i To actuate the diaphragms as described it is not necessary that thewater should more than fill the perpendicular pipes leading to the reg-4 in the means of operating the diaphragm and connecting the regulatorwith the boiler.

The upper and lower chambers, diaphragm, lever, and counter-weight arethe same as in Fig. l, except that in this case the diaphragm is ofrubber.

From the chamber V rises the pipe W having a chamber X at top, connectedwith the steam-space of boiler by a pipe, Y. Z is a pipe leading fromthe lower chamber to the boiler at a point below the waterfline. Themachine being placed in such a position that its center is on a levelwith the water-line in boiler, and being properly attached, the chamberV, pipe W, and 'chamber X are filled with water to the mouth of pipe Y.When steam and water are turned on from the boiler, water will till thechamber below the diaphragm and steam the space in chamber X, above themouth of pipe Y. If it is assumed the height of column of water in pipeW is two feet, it will exert a pressure of one pound per square inch onthe diaphragm, which is of such size that it will receive an aggregateof forty pounds. Below the diaphragm there is a pressure, due to theheight of water in boiler above it, (onefoot) of one-half pound persquare inch, making twenty pounds. In addition to this thecounter-weight on lever exerts an upward force of twenty pounds, makingan aggregate of forty pounds. There being, then, the same pressure onboth sides, the diaphragm stands balanced. If, now, the water in boilerrise, an increased pressure is brought to bear on the under side ofdiaphragm, which is raised, and the lever and counter-weight descend,closing the valve and cutting oii the water supply. When the water inboiler falls the pressure below diaphragm is reduced, the column ofwater in pipe W preponderates, the diaphragm is depressed, and the valveopened.

The object of chamber X is to prevent any considerable change in theheight of column, due to the rising and falling of the diaphragm.

I do not limit myseli:` to any precise form of the feed-water regulatoror alarm, or the method of connecting them with the boiler, as they maybe varied without departingfrom the es sential features of the machine 5but Having fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. Incombination with the above the supplemental vessel containing chambers Oand M, separated by the iiexible diaphragm P, chamber O taking steamthrough port U from upper chamber of vessel B, and chamber M providedwith the water-pipe T extending to .the alarm or lowest safe water-line,to form a combined feed-Water regulator and alarm, as W, and chamber X,and the steam-pipe Y, es

set forth. shown in Fig. 2, to interpose a body of Water 2. Theknife-edge gland, and rubber gas between said diaphragm and the steamfrom kei; G, in combination'with the vessel B, diathe boiler, as and forthe purpose set forth.

lphraigm C, and lever F, to form a @eter-tight WILLIAM PAIN TER.

and non-frictional port and bearing for said Witnesses: lever, as setforth. Y LEWIS R. KEIZER,

3. In combination, the chamber V, with pipe WILLIAM LOUGHRIDGE.

